I like the Hans Frank ducks at the bottom , reminds me of the landscapes of Oscar Droege (1898-1982); very similar use of the light on the trees and water. "An Eagle's Nest" by Leo is also a favourite and is reminisant of a composition by James Alphege-Brewer that I featured in a earlier post.

Monday, 8 September 2014

In this day and age of instant knowledge I am relieved to find an auction that doesn't know everthing. The lot below containing 5 Hall Thorpe flower print is proof that there is a chance of finding a bargain at auction as these are estimated at only £30-50 !! They are hardly "sleeper" as they are correctly catalogue and not doubt will be found by those who need to know, but at least if you decide to bid you will not be bidding against and un-realistically high reserve price.

A more correct estimate in the right sale would be £250-300 and even that is a little low.

John Hall Thorpe (1874-1947)
A group of 5 woodblock printsLot 635 - Knowle Auction Rooms - 10th Sept 2014
Estimate - £30-50 !!!
Although nothing unusual in this group I think this might be a conservative estimate
£10 each would be a steal !!

Yet more Hall Thorpe; with this pair of woodblock prints up for auction at Woolley & Wallis of Salisbury. Clearly they have had more experience in selling this artist as the estimate (£150-250) is fair and realistic. These are lotted in their picture sale rather than the Applied Design specialist sale. I don't know whether that will have a significant effect on the hammer price, but they often sell very well when with the art & crafts or art deco funishings that they originally went with.

Saturday, 6 September 2014

I have not posted one of these summaries of auction lots for sometime - sadly not enough woodblock prints have come up for sale recently, to justify any posts. Here are just a few that are lotted to sell at auction this month.

Eric Hesketh Hubbard ROI RBA ARWA (1892-1957)

On The Road (Gypsy Caravan)
WindmillLot 1491 - Woolley & Wallis - 10th Sept 2014
Estimate - £100-150
These two are being sold in one lot. I have always liked Eric's prints, they are often unsophisticated simply constructed images, not too arty but very easy to live with. The estimate is very fair and I expect them to sell towards the lower end of the estimate. A fews years ago I would have been bidding and the high estimate would have been more probable.

Also in this sale is and lot 529
containing an striking print, which seems to be titled "The Pool" and signed Tom Clark ??

'Sunbather' - Frank Martin (1921-2005)
An artist that I am very familiar with; but not this image.
It is a linocut that was published in 1950 in a small but unrecorded number.
A very early work for the artist and listed as his 9th published work.Lot 636 - Andrew Smith Auctioneers - 9th Sept 2014
Estimate - £100-150 (low, very fair)

This not a complete review, just my initial selection. There are plenty of Japanese woodcuts and many more modern art editions but there are a few more interesting lots that I will feature over the next few days.